KR20200059077A - Cartridge for thermal sublimation printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge installed in a thermal sublimation printer, and more specifically, to a cartridge that can prevent a ribbon from being wrinkled or twisted when the ribbon supplied from a feed reel is wound around a winding reel. The cartridge of the present invention includes a ribbon frame having a feed reel mounting part and a winding reel mounting part and a cassette coupled to the ribbon frame and storing a recording medium. The ribbon frame further includes a bracket which is provided in the front of the winding reel mounting part and has a central projecting portion that makes the center of the width of the ribbon project forward more than both ends.

Description

Removable cartridge for dye sublimation printers {CARTRIDGE FOR THERMAL SUBLIMATION PRINTER}

The present invention relates to a cartridge mounted on a dye sublimation printer, and more particularly, to a cartridge capable of preventing the ribbon from being crimped or twisted when the ribbon supplied from the supply reel is wound on a winding reel.

In recent years, with the rapid spread of smartphones, many people are taking photos of events or daily life.

For this reason, in recent years, portable sublimation printers, which can print wired / wireless communication with a portable smart phone and instantly take high-quality photos taken with a smart phone, have been developed and spread.

As is well known, a dye sublimation printer refers to a printer that applies heat to a thermal transfer ribbon coated with a dye so that the dye on the ribbon is transferred to and fixed on the recording medium.

The structure of a conventional dye sublimation printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the conventional dye sublimation printer 200, a cartridge insertion hole 211 is formed so that the cartridge 100 is inserted from the side.

The printer 200 includes a printer body 210 having a cartridge insertion hole 211 formed on its side, a side cover 220 and a pressing spring 230.

The printer body 210 is formed with an outlet 212 through which the recording medium is withdrawn, a first bushing 213, a second bushing 214, and a cartridge fixing protrusion 215 coupled with the cartridge 100.

The cartridge fixing protrusion 215 is a wedge-shaped member protruding a certain length from the inner surface of the printer body portion 210, fitted with the cartridge fixing hole 116 of the cartridge 100 inserted into the cartridge insertion hole 211 In combination, the cartridge 100 is guided so that it can be disposed at a certain position of the printer 200 and fixed at the same time, and the cartridge 100 is prevented from being separated from the printer 200.

The side cover 220 is rotatably installed on the side of the printer body portion 210 so that the cartridge insertion hole 211 is selectively opened and closed.

The pressure spring 230 is a plate spring installed on the bottom surface of the upper housing 210a of the printer body portion 210, and the upper surface of the recording medium storage portion 111 of the cartridge 100 stored in the printer body portion 210 It is in close contact and provides an elastic force to press the recording medium storage unit 111.

4 and 5 show a conventional cartridge. The cartridge 100 is a cartridge body formed integrally by arranging the recording medium storage 111, a supply reel 120 wound around an ink ribbon, and a winding reel 130 wound around a printed ink ribbon. It includes a portion 110, a cartridge cover portion 140, and a pressing spring hole 150.

In addition, the cartridge 100 is provided with a cartridge fixing groove 116 that fits with the cartridge fixing protrusion 215 so that the cartridge 100 is fixed to a certain position of the printer, and inserted into the printer 200 The cartridge 100 is prevented from being separated from the printer 200.

In addition, a handle 117 for gripping the cartridge 100 is installed to allow a user to grip and remove the cartridge 100 inserted into the printer 200 so that it can be easily removed from the printer 200.

In the conventional cartridge configured as described above, since the recording medium storage unit 111 is integrally formed in the cartridge body 110 in which the ribbon is mounted, it is not easy to transport and store the cartridge.

In particular, when there is a defect in any one of the parts for mounting the recording medium storage unit 111 or the ribbon, there is a problem that the entire cartridge needs to be replaced.

Also, when the ribbon supplied from the supply reel is wound around the winding reel, the ribbon is often twisted or wrinkled during the transfer path.

In addition, a certain inspection process is performed in the production process of the printer. For example, after mounting the cartridge 100 in the printer 200, the image is printed to test the operation or image quality of the printer 200. However, the conventional printer 200, when mounting the cartridge 100 to the printer, as described above, the cartridge fixing groove 116 is fixed to the fitting protrusion 215 formed in the housing 210A of the printer by fitting the cartridge. . Therefore, in order to proceed with the above-described test, the test can be performed only in a state where the housing 210a is completely assembled to the printer body 210, and there is a problem in that the completely assembled product must be discarded according to the test results.

On the other hand, since the ribbon is in the form of a thin film, wrinkles or kinks are often formed during transport. In particular, the state in which the dye is sublimed is more often wrinkled or twisted. When wrinkles or kinks occur in the ribbon as described above, it cannot be wound up constantly on the reel, and it is not limited to being transported in a distorted state, not being transported parallel to the recording medium from the lower side of the head. do.

Patent Publication 10-2015-0088402 Patent Registration 10-1507064 Patent Publication 10-2015-0088402 Registered Patent 10-1486327

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge capable of preventing the ribbon from being wrinkled or twisted when the ribbon supplied from the supply reel is wound around the winding reel.

A ribbon frame and a cassette provide a separable cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable cartridge that can easily and firmly couple the ribbon frame and the cassette.

To solve the above technical problem, the cartridge according to the present invention includes a supply reel mounting portion and a ribbon frame equipped with a winding reel mounting portion; And a cassette coupled to the ribbon frame and containing a recording medium. The ribbon frame is provided on the front side of the take-up reel mounting portion, and a protruding portion protruding the center of the width direction of the ribbon in front of both ends is provided at the center. It is preferable to further include a bracket to be formed.

In addition, the upper end of the bracket is formed at a position higher than the center of the winding reel, it is preferable that the bending portion extending downward from the upper end of the bracket in the direction of the winding reel is formed.

In addition, it is preferable that the bent portion is formed to be inclined downward toward the rear side.

In addition, it is preferable that the upper end of the bracket is formed to protrude upward from the front end of the bent portion so that the ribbon is transferred while contacting only the upper end of the bracket and the rear end of the bent portion.

In addition, it is preferable that a protruding portion is formed at the center of the bent portion to protrude the center of the width direction of the ribbon upwards than both ends.

In addition, it is preferable that the lifting plate is formed on the upper ends of both ends of the bent portion to prevent the ribbon from lifting.

In addition, the supply reel mounting portion is preferably further provided with a ribbon cover for shielding all or part of the supply reel.

In addition, it is preferable that the idle roller is further provided detachably to the ribbon frame from the lower side of the winding reel.

According to the present invention, wrinkles or kinks are prevented when the ribbon is wound on a winding reel. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated due to wrinkles of the ribbon.

In addition, the ribbon frame and the cassette are separated and formed into a structure to be combined for easy transport and storage. In addition, if there is a defect in either the ribbon frame or the cassette, only the defective component can be replaced, thereby reducing replacement cost and manufacturing cost.

In addition, even if the ribbon frame and the cassette are formed separately, they can be used easily and firmly when combined.

1 to 3 show a conventional dye sublimation printer.
4 and 5 show a cartridge mounted in a conventional dye sublimation printer.
6 and 7 show a cartridge according to the present invention.
8 and 9 respectively show the ribbon frame and the cassette of the cartridge according to the present invention.
10 and 11 show the transport state of the ribbon in the cartridge according to the present invention.
12 shows a ribbon frame of the cartridge according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the structure and operation of the cartridge according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 and 7 show a perspective view of a removable cartridge according to the present invention, the embodiment (1) according to the present invention is a ribbon frame 10 and the cassette 20 are configured separately, it is used in combination.

The ribbon frame 10 and the cassette 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The ribbon frame 10 is formed with a supply reel mounting portion 12a so that a supply reel R1 of a ribbon (see 'R' in FIG. 10) can be mounted, and a winding reel mounting portion so that the winding reel R2 can be mounted. (12b) is formed.

In addition, the cassette 20 is a component in which a plurality of recording media (not shown) such as photo paper are stacked in the vertical direction.

In particular, guide rails 11 are formed on both side walls of the ribbon frame 10 in the transverse direction, and guide bars 21 are projected on both side walls of the cassette 20 in the transverse direction. A rail groove 11a is formed in the guide rail 11 to allow the guide bar 21 to enter.

Therefore, the guide bar 21 enters along the guide rail 11 to combine the cassette 20 and the ribbon frame 10.

In order to more securely mount the cassette 20 and the ribbon frame 10, it can be seen that two mounting protrusions 21b are formed on the guide bar 21 outward. Two seating holes 11b are formed in the guide rail 11 corresponding to the mounting protrusions 21b.

Therefore, the user can recognize whether the mounting projection 21b is mounted on the ribbon frame 10 by pushing the cassette 10 until it is seated in the seating hole 11b.

The seating hole 11b is formed in a trapezoidal cross section so that the mounting protrusion 21b is stably seated in the seating hole 11b.

In addition, the guide bar 21, the front end is connected to the cassette 20 is integrally formed, it can be seen that the incision 21a is formed between the cassette 20 and the rear end of the mounting projection 21b is formed. When the cassette 20 is formed of a synthetic resin material or metal, when the guide bar 21 slides along the guide rail 11 and enters, when the mounting protrusion 21b meets the guide rail 11, the incision is made. Since the portion 21a is formed, the mounting projection 21b elastically retracts in the direction of the cassette 20, and in this state, when the guide bar 21 enters the inside of the guide rail 11 more While the elastically deformed guide bar 21 is restored again, the mounting protrusion 21b is seated in the seating hole 11b.

If the incision 21a is not formed, when the mounting projection 21b enters, a pair of guide rails 11 are opened outwards, and if the operation is repeated, the guide rails 11 are damaged. Can be. In the present invention, since this problem is solved, the incision 21a is formed.

In addition, a locking member 22 is provided on one side wall of the cassette 20, and the locking member 22 uses a cartridge 1 in which the cassette 20 and the ribbon frame 10 are coupled to the printer body (not shown). It is a configuration for fixing on.

The locking member 22 is formed with a hook 22a extending inward from one side wall of the cassette 20, and a pair of grippers 22b is provided outside.

In this embodiment, two mounting protrusions 21b and two seating holes 11b are formed, but according to the present invention, the number of mounting projections 21b and seating holes 11b can be variously changed. In addition, a seating groove may be formed in the guide rail 11 instead of the seating hole 11b.

10 is a side view of the ribbon frame 10 according to the present invention. As shown, the supply reel mounting portion and the winding reel mounting portion are respectively equipped with a supply reel R1 and a winding reel R2.

In addition, a ribbon cover 13 is provided on one side of the supply reel R1 mounted on the supply reel mounting portion. Between the supply reel (R1) and the winding reel (R2), a head that applies heat (Thermal Printing Head) is positioned to sublimate the dye of the ribbon (R) on the recording medium to form an image, which is applied from a head (not shown) The heat to be exerted adversely affects the ribbon R wound around the supply reel R1. In other words, the ribbon cover 13 is to protect the ribbon R wound on the supply reel R1 from heat or moisture, and to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the ribbon. Therefore, the circumferential surface of the supply reel R1 may be entirely wrapped, but in this embodiment, the ribbon cover 13 is formed only on one side opposite to the winding reel R1. The contamination of the ribbon is mainly done in the vicinity of the head and is intended to reduce the overall weight of the cartridge. Therefore, the ribbon cover 13 is made of a constant curved surface so as to be in close contact with the supply reel R1 as a whole, but the lower end 13a is bent such that the ribbon R supplied from the winding reel R1 is supplied to the lower side of the head. In particular, the bent portion is 'R' processed to transfer the ribbon without friction.

The ribbon R passing through the lower end 13a of the ribbon cover 13 is used as the dye sublimates into the recording medium while passing through the head.

The ribbon (substrate) with which the dye has been sublimated through this process is wound with a winding reel (R1) through the idle roller 14 and the bracket 15 under the head.

The idle roller 14 is provided on the lower front side of the winding reel R1 to provide a transfer path to horizontally transfer the ribbon R transferred through the lower portion of the ribbon cover 13.

The ribbon R passing through the idle roller 13 is transferred to a position higher than the upper end of the winding reel R1 by the bracket 15 again. That is, the upper end 15b of the bracket 15 is located at a position higher than the center of the winding reel.

The bracket 15 is formed to be inclined downward in the direction of the idle roller 14 from the upper end 15b formed at a position higher than the upper end of the winding reel R1. In addition, a bent portion 15c extending downward from the upper end 15b of the bracket in the winding reel direction is formed.

On the other hand, since the ribbon R has a thin film shape, wrinkles or kinks are often formed during transportation. In particular, the state in which the dye is sublimed is more often wrinkled or twisted. When wrinkles or kinks occur in the ribbon R as described above, the winding reel R2 is not uniformly wound, and it is not limited to being conveyed in a distorted state without being transferred parallel to the recording medium from the lower side of the head. It causes serious deterioration.

In order to prevent the ribbon from being wrinkled or kinked, in the present invention, a protrusion 15a is formed on the bracket 15 to protrude the center of the ribbon R from both ends forward. 11 is a plan cross-sectional view showing the shape of the ribbon R at a position where the protrusion 15a is formed. As shown, it can be seen that the ribbon R has a center portion R0 in the width direction protruding forward by the protruding portion 15a, and a curve is formed toward the rear side as it goes toward both ends.

In this way, the center R0 of the ribbon is projected forward to impart artificial tension in the width direction of the ribbon R, so that no wrinkle or twist occurs during the transfer of the ribbon.

In this embodiment, the protruding portion 15a was formed only on the bracket 15, but unlike this, it is also possible to form the upper surface of the bent portion 15c. In this case, the ribbon R may be wound on the reel while the center is projected upward in the width direction, and both ends are curved downward to prevent wrinkles or kinks for the same reason.

Referring back to FIG. 10, also, on the upper ends of both ends of the bent portion 15c, the ribbon is prevented from lifting and the lifting plate for guiding the winding in parallel with the winding reel R2 (refer to '16' in FIG. 12). ) Is formed. When both ends of the ribbon are lifted, wrinkles or kinks are generated to prevent this.

In addition, it can be seen that the bent portion 15c is formed to be inclined downward toward the rear side, and the upper end of the bracket 15 is protruded than the front end of the bent portion 15c. This is to transfer the ribbon (R) while contacting only the upper end of the bracket and the rear end (end, 15d) of the bent portion. That is, the ribbon does not contact the bent portion 15c during transport. The upper end 15b of the bracket is also 'R' processed to reduce the frictional force during ribbon transfer.

12, the idle roller 14 is detachably provided on the ribbon frame 10.

Since the idle roller 14 is detachably provided, it becomes very easy to mount the supply reel and the winding reel.

Specifically, the supply reel around which the ribbon is wound is mounted on the supply reel mounting portion, the tip of the ribbon passes through the lower end of the ribbon cover, and passes through the upper end of the bracket to attach to the winding reel.

In this state, since the axis of the idle roller 14 is attached to the shaft hole 14b, the ribbon is very easily mounted. If the idle roller cannot be separated from the ribbon frame, there is a hassle of inserting the tip of the ribbon into the fine gap below the idle roller to be mounted.

1: Example
10: Ribbon frame
11: Guide rail
12a: Supply reel mounting part
12b: winding reel mounting portion
13: Ribbon cover
14: Children roller
15: bracket
16: Lifting plate
20: cassette
21: Guide bar
22: locking member

Claims (9)

Ribbon frame provided with a supply reel mounting portion and a winding reel mounting portion; And
It is coupled to the ribbon frame, a cassette in which a recording medium is stored; includes,
The ribbon frame is provided on the front side of the winding reel mounting portion, characterized in that the cartridge further comprises a bracket in which a projection is formed to protrude the center of the width direction of the ribbon toward the front than both ends.
According to claim 1,
The upper end of the bracket is formed at a position higher than the center of the winding reel,
A cartridge characterized in that the bending portion extending downward from the upper end of the bracket in the winding reel direction is formed.
According to claim 2,
The cartridge is characterized in that the bent portion is formed to be inclined downward toward the rear.
According to claim 3,
The cartridge is characterized in that the upper end of the bracket is formed to protrude upward from the front end of the bent portion so that the ribbon is transferred while contacting only the upper end of the bracket and the rear end of the bent portion.
According to claim 2,
A cartridge characterized in that the lifting plate is formed on the upper ends of both ends of the bent portion to prevent the ribbon from lifting.
According to claim 1,
The supply reel mounting portion, characterized in that the cartridge further comprises a ribbon cover for shielding all or part of the supply reel.
According to claim 1,
A cartridge further comprising an idle roller which is detachably provided on the ribbon frame on the lower side of the winding reel.
According to claim 1,
Guide rails are formed in the transverse direction on both side walls of the ribbon frame,
A cartridge characterized in that a guide bar is further formed to protrude in the transverse direction on both side walls of the cassette and slide along the guide rail.
The method of claim 8,
The guide bar is formed with a mounting protrusion protruding outward,
The guide rail is a cartridge, characterized in that a seating groove or seating hole in which the mounting projection is seated.

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